Tripod.



C. WALTE.

TRIPOD.

APPLIOLTIOI FILED IAB. IH, H12.

Patented June 17,1913e Carlwlfe, Y

Witnesses NWLES WALTE, O LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

TRIPOD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .l une 1 7,1 913.

Application filed March 28. 1912. Serial 110,686,912.

To all lwhom. 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES lVAL'rF., a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Tripod, ot which the t'ollowing is a specification. I f

This invention relates to tripods tor supporting a tree or standard.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a tripod which may be conveniently closed'when not in use, the tripod being providedv with feet which torni a locking means to retain `the sections of the tripod in their folded ostions. u

With the foregoing anotheryobjects in view which willV appear/as the/ description proceeds, the invention resides in the\ com bination and arrangement of parts and in theI details of construction hereinaftedescribed' and claimed, it `being I,understood that changes in thej precise embodiment ot invention hereindisclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without (le-- parting from the spirit/of the invent-ion. In the (lra\vi11gs-Fig11re 1 is a perspec tive view. Fig. Qis a section taken through the lower ring. Fig. 3 is an enlarged View showing the foot in its folded position to hold the section against movement, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2. Y,

Ii the drawings,'10 designates an annular member which is formed with a plurality of screw-threaded openings which receive the retaining screws 11, which contact with the ,article to be supported. The annular member l() is provided with a plural-ity of apcrturcd lugs 12 which pivotally support the legs 14. These legs 14 are substantially U-shaped in cross section, their upper terminals en'll'nacing the apcr'tured lugs, pins 15 passing through said. terminals and through the apertures in said lugs It. will be noted that while the legs are shown as U-shaperl in cross section, any form of leg may be used which will allow the members lo told properly.

The lower ring 16 is provided with a plurality of lugs 17 which pivotally support the short'legs 18, the upper and lower annu lar members serving to properly center the standard, the shorter vrlegs 1d nesting within the legs 14, when the tripod is folded.

tWith the tripod in its extended position,

the lower legs 18 extend radiallyv from the annular members 1G and the legs-14'which are pivotally connected to the lower legs at an angle of about 45, the legs thus forming a rigid support for the tree or standard. It will he noted that when the set screws are adjusted to the article that the legs will be held at, any desired angle, the fasteners ot' the set screws ot' the upper annular member and thc lower annular member locking the legs at any desired angle.

livotally supported by cach f the pins 19 which pass through the outer nested terminalsl ot' the legs 14. and 17, is a disk 20, the disk being provided with centrally disposed apex-lured lugs through which the pin l2) passes, thc disk in this manner being readily adjusted, in order that the same may properly support the tripod. The disk 20 is tapered and torms a locking means for the connected terminals of thc legs, the pivot 1f) being arranged eccentric with respect to the rounded portions of the legs 18 to allow the disk to be swung into binding contact with the curved portions 21 of the connected tcrlninals ot' the nesting legs. Thus when thel legs are nested, the disks may be moved to the position shown iu Fig. 3, the movemen.V of the tapered disk, locking the legs 17 within the legs 14, holding the same against displacement., the tripod thus presenting the appearance of being formed of three legs, the shorter legs 17 being completely incased by the longer legs 14.

lhe many advantages of a construction of this .luxracter\,will be clearly apparentas it will be noted that. the tripod may be folded to lake'np comparatively little space, the annilar members holding the nested legs in spaced relation, the disks which serve as the locking disks, being swung ou their pivots to lock the nested legs together. When it is desired to extend the tripod, the disks are swung on their pivots which will permit the annular members to be separated thus` disposingl the legs 17 radially from the lower annular member, and the legs 14 at an angle ot about 45 from the upper annular member, the disks being moved on their pivots .until the same extend parallel with the arms 17, to properly support the tripod. lt will also be noted that. a device of this character may be easily and economically manufactured, the various parts being readily assembled.

What is claimed isz-- -1. A tripod comprising a plurality of an,

.said members, the "egs supported by one of said members bei housed by the legs of the other member w en the tripod is folded, the free terminals of Isaid legs being pivotally connected, and means supported adjacent the terminals of said legs4 for holding v the legs in their folded position.

A tripod, comprising two sets of legs, the upper terminals of which are connected to a supporting mechanism, and an eccentrically mounted member connecting the lower terminals of the legs, said member being pivotally supported by said legs and disposed to contact' with the legs to hold the same together. l

4. A tripod comprising a plurality of annular members, legs pivotally supported by each of said member/s, and disposed inan inner and outer series, said legs being substentially U-shaped in cross section, the le s of the outer; series embracing the legs of t e inner series when the tripod is-,in its ,folded position, the free terminals of the legs being pivotally connected, a ,disk pivofally supported eccentrically adjacent/,said connected I terminals, said disk being/formed with an apertured lug, said lug/receiving the secure ng'device which-connects the free terminals. In testimony that I claim the foregoing vlas my own, I have hereto affixed my slgnature in the presence of ,two witnesses.y I CHARLES WALTE.

Witnesses:

C. Y. SANDERSON, H. C. STRAUS. 

